Shower curtain holding device

Abstract

A curtain holding device of the type for use in association with a shower curtain for holding the shower curtain against billowing into the shower area during use of the shower. The device is attachable to the shower curtain support rod together with the shower curtain so that a number of the devices may be drawn to spaced intervals along the intermediate portion of the support rod when the curtain is drawn from an open to a closed position. Unlike known shower curtain controlling devices, the device of the present invention includes a weighted member which provides a turning moment on an elongated curtain engaging member so as to force the member to pivot outwardly from the shower area not only to prevent the curtain from being drawn into the shower area but to hold an intermediate portion of the shower curtain outwardly from the shower area and thereby provide an enlarged shower area, particularly at an elbow height for the user of the shower. Because the device moves with the shower curtain to the open position, the weighted structure, which provides the turning force to the curtain engaging member when the curtain is closed, is connected to the curtain engaging member in a manner to permit it to be disengaged from its active position and to swing to a free hanging position so as not to cause the open curtain to be distorted.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A curtain holder for use with a shower curtain of type suspended from a support rod by a plurality or curtain hooks slidable along said rod to enable the curtain to be extended from an open position on spreading of said hooks to a closed free hanging position defining one side of a shower area, said holder comprising: a rigid elongated curtain engaging member having attachment means for suspending an upper end thereof from said support rod for free swinging movement away from said shower area, and a weight member connected to said curtain engaging member and movable relative thereto between an inactive position where said weight member hangs from said curtain engaging member to a raised biasing position where said weight member engages said elongated member for applying a turning force to said curtain engaging member causing said curtain engaging member to rotate about said rod and force said curtain outwardly of said shower area.   
     
     
       2. A curtain holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said weight member includes an inner end having first connecting means for pivotally connecting said weight member to said curtain engaging member, and an outer weighted end. 
     
     
       3. A curtain holder for use with a shower curtain of the type suspended from a support rod by a plurality of curtain hooks slidable along said rod to enable the curtain to be extended from an open position on spreading of said hooks to a closed free hanging position defining one side of a shower area, said holder comprising: a rigid elongated curtain engaging member having attachment means for suspending an upper end thereof from said support rod for free swinging movement away from said shower area; and   a weight member connected to said curtain engaging member and movable relative thereto between an inactive hanging position and a raised biasing position for applying a turning force to said curtain engaging member forcing said curtain engaging member to swing outwardly of said shower area, said weight member including an inner end having first connecting means for pivotally connecting said weight member to said curtain engaging member, and an outer weighted end, said first connecting means of said weight member connecting the inner end thereof to said curtain engaging member at a location below said upper end of said curtain engaging member, and said weight member having a second connecting means intermediate the ends thereof for detachably connecting said weight member to said curtain engaging member at a location on said curtain engaging member above said first connection means of said weight member and holding said weight member in said raised biasing position.   
     
     
       4. A curtain holder as defined in claim 3, wherein said curtain engaging member includes means defining an elongated vertical slot below said attachment means, and said first connecting means of said weight member includes a stem portion at the inner end thereof and projecting through said vertical slot, said stem portion terminating in a head portion of greater width that said slot for preventing withdrawal of said stem through said slot. 
     
     
       5. A curtain holder as defined in claim 4, wherein said stem portion of said weight member has a width less than that of the vertical slot for free sliding movement in said slot, and said curtain engaging member defines a lower end portion of said vertical slot, said head portion of said weight member engaging said end portion of said slot for holding said weight member in said inactive hanging position. 
     
     
       6. A curtain holder as defined in claim 4, wherein said curtain engaging member includes an end member defining an upper end of said vertical slot, and said stem portion includes a hook member spaced from said head portion for locking engagement with said end member to form said second connecting means holding said weight member in said raised biasing position. 
     
     
       7. A curtain holder as defined in claim 6, wherein said stem portion is provided with a widened section intermediate said head portion and said hook portion for engagement with said curtain engaging member on opposite sides of said vertical slot when said hook member locks said weight member in said raised biasing position. 
     
     
       8. A curtain holder as defined in claim 6, wherein said weight member includes an intermediate portion and an outer weighted end, said intermediate portion extending at an angle relative to said stem portion for locating said weighted end at a position extending upwardly into said shower area in said raised biasing position. 
     
     
       9. A curtain holder as defined in claim 8, wherein said the weighted outer end in formed integrally with said intermediate portion of said weight member by way of a bent portion forming an upwardly open hook in said raised biasing position. 
     
     
       10. A curtain holder as defined in claim 8, wherein said outer weighted end includes an enlarged portion defining a cavity closed by a removable cap, whereby said cavity can be filled with a selected amount of a weight material for affecting the magnitude of said turning force. 
     
     
       11. A curtain holder as defined in claim 10, wherein said weight material consists of a Barite sand. 
     
     
       12. A curtain holder for use with a shoulder curtain of the type suspended from a support rod by a plurality of curtain hooks slidable along said rod to enable the curtain to be extended from an open position on spreading of said hooks to a closed free hanging position defining one side of a shower area, said holder comprising: a rigid elongated curtain engaging member having attachment means for suspending an upper end thereof from said support rod for free swinging movement away from said shower area, said attachment means of said curtain engaging member including means defining an opening for receiving one of said plurality of curtain hooks slidable on said support rod; and   a weight member connected to said curtain engaging member and movable relative thereto between an inactive hanging position and a raised biasing position for applying a turning force to said curtain engaging member forcing said curtain engaging member to swing outwardly of said shower area.   
     
     
       13. A curtain holder for use with a shower curtain of the type suspended from a support rod by a plurality of curtain hooks slidable along said rod to enable the curtain to be extended from an open position on spreading of said hooks to a closed free hanging position defining one side of a shower area, said holder comprising: a rigid elongated curtain engaging member having attachment means for suspending an upper end thereof from said support rod for free swinging movement away from said shower area, said attachment means of said curtain engaging member including an elongated opening extending transversely to said elongated curtain engaging member and being of a sufficient length to contain an adjacent pair of the curtain hooks in a normal spread condition; and   a weight member connected to said curtain engaging member and movable relative thereto between an inactive hanging position and a raised biasing position for applying a turning force to said curtain engaging member forcing said curtain engaging member to swing outwardly of said shower area.   
     
     
       14. A curtain holder has defined in claim 13, wherein said curtain engaging member includes means defining an elongated vertical slot below the attachment means, wherein said first connecting means of said weight member includes a stem portion at the inner end thereof and projecting through the vertical slot, said stem portion terminating in a head portion of greater width than the slot for preventing withdrawal of the stem through the slot, and wherein said curtain engaging member has at least two longitudinally spaced means for receiving said second connection means of said weight member to thereby provide at least two locations at different heights for positioning said weight member in said raised position. 
     
     
       15. A curtain holder has defined in claim 14, wherein said curtain engaging member includes a transverse member defining a lower portion of said elongated opening, said transverse member defining an upper one of said connecting means of said curtain engaging member. 
     
     
       16. A curtain holder has defined in claim 15, wherein a second transverse member is positioned in said slot and provides a second lower connecting means of said curtain engaging member. 
     
     
       17. A curtain holder has defined in claim 16, wherein said slot extends to the first transverse member and is separated from said elongated opening by the first transverse member, said second transverse member dividing said slot into upper and lower portions.